I was reading some old magazines I had lying around and stumbled across a mention in the Downloads section of Laptop Magazine that highlighted a Microsoft PowerToy that I had never heard of. The PowerToy is the ClearType Tuner.

At first I downloaded it off another website as an installable file and played around with getting it set up. I didn't have ClearType turned on, though. Once I turned it on and went through the configuration it worked wonders. Then I realized that Microsoft actually offers the PowerToy online now with no download required.

I tend to not like monitors and docking stations, so I use my laptop as my primary device during the day. That said, the screen quality was never 100% where I wanted it. Since using ClearType Tuner, though, I have to say that I've noticed quite an improvement. Initially I laughed at the configuration options when it reminded me of a test you get at the eye doctors where it's completely up to me to decide which letter looks better, but now that I'm typing this on a screen with a white background and my eyes are relatively relaxed, I have to admit it really did make a difference.

hmmm(3:39pm EST Mon Jan 23 2006)I turned it on and tuned it, but I'm not sure if I really like it. – by mjwii

IE(3:44pm EST Mon Jan 23 2006)You need IE because it will install an ActiveX control. Now, everyone will acknowledge that IE is superior to Firefox. Try to do the same in Linux, impossible as the font are always cripple. Microsoft is superior, knell before Bill Gates.

Flame me if you care – by Dumb

Thank you sir(4:32pm EST Mon Jan 23 2006)Now the age old question to ask is:

Why was this disabled on my laptop in the first place?

This goes down as a silly MS decision, like the default selection in your Folder options to 'hide extensions' – by Hodar

This actually worked!(4:52pm EST Mon Jan 23 2006)Wow, the tuner actually made quite a noticable improvement in the readability of fonts. I have ClearType turned on already, but the tuner actually improved it beyond the out-the-box benefit of ClearType.

Try hating on that, MSphobes! – by Duhh

re: Hodar(5:20pm EST Mon Jan 23 2006)I think MS hides certain extensions to help the user from making a silly mistake, like deleting dll files. How useful that's been toward achieving that goal, I don't know. – by xyz

used it before(6:26pm EST Mon Jan 23 2006)i've used it before on my lcd for desktop and laptop. i have to say that it can be a lot bolder and easier to read for most people. for some reason, i like looking at pixelated fonts, i can tell if a pixel is missing from my fonts heh – by erk

this is news?(5:55am EST Tue Jan 24 2006)Oh my god.um ClearType and the tuner app have been around since WinXP first rolled (and probably before than in Win9x)and someone has only just noticed!maybe, just maybe MS has some other really neat things in their OS that no-one else at Geek has noticed? – by Linux_sucks_his_thum

MICROSOFT(8:01am EST Tue Jan 24 2006)I LOVE MACS THERE BETTER THAN ANY COMPUTER BECAUSE THERE AT LEAST 10 TIMES FASTER THAN A NORMAL PC ME AND MY BUDDY GERALD TESTED IT AT ASTRANAUT CLUB LAST WEEKEND SO GET BUYING MY GEEK FREINDS – by ERELD